Fiber distributing system



April 1, 1969 Filed Jan. 18 1966 H. H. LANGDON 3,435,484

FIBER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Sheet FIG.2

INVENTOR. HOWARD H. LANGDON ATTORNEY April 1, 1969 LANGDON 3,435,484

FIBER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 18, 1966 v Sheet 2 of 5 f-L. Hi -L II I I INVENTOR. HOWARD H. LANGDON BY W ATTORNEY a April 1, 1969 H, H. LANGDON 3,

v FIBER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM I Filed Jan. 18, 1966 Sheet 3 of 5 INVENTOR. HOWARD H. LANGDON ATTORNEY H.H. LANGDON FIBER-DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM April 1; 1969 Sheet 4 of 5 Filed Jan. 18, 1966 INVENTOR HOWARD H.LANGDQN April 1, 1969 i H. H. LANGDON 3,435,434

FIBER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 18, 1966 Sheet '5 of 5 INVENTOR. HOWARD H. LANGDON BY WT. QRNE United States Patent 01 ice 3,435,484. Patented Apr. 1, 1969 3,435,484 FIBER DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Howard H. Langdon, Fairport, N.Y., assignor to Curlator Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 521,267 Int. Cl. D01b 3/10, 3/00; D01g 15/40 US. Cl. 19-65 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to fiber feeding and distributing systems for textile machines, and more particularly to a system for conveying and distributing textile fibers to a series of carding or similar textile processing machines.

In conventional practice, after partial opening and cleaning, cotton fiber is fed to a picker for further opening and cleaning. The picker also evens flow of the fiber widthwise and longitudinally to form a web of a given weight which is calendered and wound into a roll known as a picker lap. The picker lap is then transferred to the card room as a lap roll and placed on the back of the card where it is unwound and passed through the card to form a sliver.

Various systems are known for feeding fibers simultaneously to a plurality of cards. In one such system, the fibers are drawn from the opener past a rotating beater, and through a condenser by a fan which blows the flocks upward into a duct suspended at the work room ceiling and extending above the cards. A feed hopper branches oif from the ceiling duct at each card, ending above the feed table. The amount of cotton delivered to each card is determined by adjustment of guide plates at junctures of the main duct and the hoppers. An excess of flocks is conveyed through the main circulating duct to ensure that all hoppers are filled to the top permanently. The amount drawn off by each card at the bottom of its hopper is immediately replaced at the top of the hopper. The surplus fibrous material is delivered back at the starting point and is combined with the material delivered by the beater. The duct is of exactly the same width as the feed tables of the cards. It extends above one row of cards, then is reversed and returns to the starting point.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a feed system which is simpler than prior systems in that it enables the picker, calender and wind-up mechanism to be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fiber feeding and distributing system which will permit the opening and cleaning functions to be transferred to an opening room separate from the room containing the cards where new and modern cleaner openers may be used, thereby permitting the elimination of the picker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fiber feeding and distribution system for a plurality of cards, which will minimize the labor required for wind-up, transfer and unwind of card laps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fiber feeding and distribution system which will maintain prescut mill standards for quality of product and at the same time increase the carding rate in pounds per hour.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatically operated fiber feeding and distributing syste m to accomplish the objects herein recited.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fiber feeding and distributing system which will permit card room processes to be automated.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Several different embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illus trating how one embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in a line of feeders, cleaners, and cards, and showing fragmentarily the longitudinal distribution duct, and the by-passes therefrom which supply the individual cards;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of this system;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale of part of the main distribution duct, of a by-pass duct, and of the card with which this by-pass duct connects, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away, and on the scale of and at right angles to FIG. 3 further showing somewhat diagrammatically details of the feed to an individual card;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on a still further enlarged scale, taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 4, showing further details of the feed to an individual card;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, similar to FIG. 3 but showing a different embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view at right angles to FIG. 6 and similar to FIG. 4 and further illustrating this second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away, illustrating one modification of the invention in which not only suction but also pressure are used to carry the fibers through the main duct;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a still further enlarged scale illustrating still another construction for feeding fibers to an individual card; and

FIG. 10 is -a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the manner in which the opening rolls of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 are mounted.

Several different embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. In one, there is a fiber feeding condenser associated with each card, and a main-line duct extends longitudinally from an opener-cleaner over one row of cards and returns over another row of cards to the opener-cleaner. A by-pass duct leads from the mainline duct to a condenser at each card. It carries fibers from the main-line duct to the condenser which forms the fibers into a mat that is fed to the card. A fan associated with each card-condenser pulls the fibers from the mainline duct through the associated by-pass duct to the condenser and returns the air to the main-line duct.

The air and fibers may be removed either from the top of the main-line duct or from the bottom thereof; and the air is returned to the main-line duct preferably at the bottom thereof in the first case, and preferably at the top thereof in the second case but in either event adjacent to and ahead of the point of removal. This is done in such a manner that the returned air aids in the removal of the fibers from the main-line duct. An adjustable vane or deflector in the main-line duct located just above the juncture with the main-line duct of the return portion of the by-pass duct prevents air turbulence, aids in keeping the fibers from settling onto the bottom of the mainline duct, and helps control the rate of removal of the fibers from the main-line duct.

In a still further modification of the invention, air under pressure is admitted to the main-line duct to aid air and fiber flow therein. In still another modification of the invention, the fibers and air are carried from each by-pass duct through a pair of opening rolls and over a screen on the way to the card-condenser. Thus, the fibers can be opened still further and dirt and foreign matter can be separated from them.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, and first to FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, there are shown at 20 two conventional blending feeders for receiving fibers from bale stock, or otherwise, and delivering the stock onto a common conveyor belt 22. The number of feeders will depend on the number of kinds of fiber stock required to make up a blend, and, of course, upon the capacity of individual feeders to provide the total flow rate of fibers in lbs./hr.

From the conveyor 22, the fibers pass to a conventional cleaner 24, from which the stock is delivered by a chute 26 to a conventional cleaner opener 28, such as the Rando-Cleaner opener made by the assignee of the present application. Such an opener opens the stock better than a conventional opening line using a picker, calender and wind-up such as forms card feed laps in roll form, commonly called picker laps. The product of the cleaner-opener is in well-opened form and includes individual fibers along with fine tufts, finer than the tufts composing the conventional picker lap.

As the fiber passes through the opener-cleaner 28 air is admitted under fan action. A pneumatic conveyor, or main duct, 30 receives the air and fiber along with additional air, as may be required, by means of a dampered air intake at 32. The uptake portion 33 of the duct 30 is tapered and designed to minimize turbulence pockets and to maintain constant velocity in the transition from the rectangular section 34 of the duct at its intake juncture with the opener-cleaner 28 to the circular form which it has in the rest of the uptake portion and in the portions which extend above the cards.

The duct 30 passes over the carding machines 35, which are of conventional construction, and returns to a suction fan, which is inserted between the return end of the duct and the cleaner-opener 28, and which delivers excess fiber to the cleaner-opener 28 by means of a pneumatic air and fiber separator or by use of a ceiling condenser such as long used in the industry.

The suction fan and fiber separator are designated at 36 (FIG. 1), and may be of conventional construction.

Thus, a pneumatic fiber conveying loop is formed returning excess fiber to the point of start at the cleaneropener 28. An excess of fiber of from to is necessary in order that the feeding system may provide an adequate supply of fiber even to the last card to receive fiber from the loop.

Each card has a connection to the trunk line 30, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The connection in each instance is through a section 37 which is rectangular in cross section and which is connected at opposite ends to the rest of the trunkline by short sections 38 and 39 which are shaped to serve as transition sections from rectangular portion 37 to the circular main part of the trunkline. Each section 37 has two functions, namely, for delivering fiber and air to the by-pass duct leading to the card beneath, and for return of air to the main duct from the condenser unit located on the rear of this card.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each section 37 has an uptake portion 40 connected to it at the top of the trunk line; and this is connected at opposite sides with two downwardly extending round portions, 40, 40". These deliver air and fibers from the trunk line to two duct portions 41, each of which increases progressively in width to half the Width of the card-condenser.

4 These by-pass ducts 41 terminate in a trumpet 42 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which communicates with a housing 43 in which a rotary foraminous condenser 44 of conventional construction revolves.

The condenser 44 (FIG. 5) is foraminous; and air is sucked continuously through it by operation of a fan 45 which is connected to one end of the condenser by the duct 47.

The trumpet is progressively narrowed in area so as to choke off the air flow to the condenser as the condenser is filled with fiber so that a condition of balance is obtained between the delivery of fiber to the card feed plate and the quantity of fiber and carrier air leaving the main trunk line. For the fiber to leave the main duct 30 it is necessary for it to rise vertically against gravity. Fiber will leave the main duct 30 in relation to the flow rate of air in the downtake 41 to the condenser.

The quantity of fiber and the compacting of the fiber in the trumpet control the take-off of air and with it the quantity of fiber going to the card unit. This is a continuing function, self-regulating. In extreme cases, when the trumpet is empty there will be an inrush of air to the by-pass line leading to the card; and fiber will be entrained to the maximum flow rate. On the other hand, when the trumpet is full and compacted, even with the differential suction pressure produced by fan 45, the flow rate of air in the downtake will be cut oil to the point that no fiber will rise from the main trunkline to the by-pass.

The fibers deposited on the condenser 44 are doffed and fed under the feed roll 60 (FIG. 5) over the feed plate 62 to the licker-in 64 of the card.

As stated, the trunk line 30 operates under suction by reason of the fan 36 (FIG. 1). The air flowing in each downtake (by-pass) 41 is separated from the fiber by the condenser 44. The suction fan 45 at each card receives air from the condenser and returns that air to the trunk line through a connection 48.

This return air enters at the bottom of the associated trunk line section 37 and under an adjustable guide vane (FIG. 3) which directs the air downstream in the trunk-line duct 30. There are several reasons for the return of air at this point. Through such a connection the circulation of air is maintained at full volume and velocity in all sections of the trunk line. Furthermore, by entering the air under the guide vane 50 and directing the stream flow downstream, turbulence in the main trunk line is minimized. Thirdly, by introducing the return air as described, a lifting action is produced on the fibers flowing in the main trunk line at each card downtake to counteract the pull of gravity upon the fiber. This helps to keep the fiber from coagulating in the turbulence zone as it approaches the duct floor due to pull of gravity.

Each of the adjustable vanes 50 is pivoted at 51 in the associated section 37, and each is adjustable by any suitable means, as, for instance, a screw 52 (FIG. 3) and nut 53 carried in a block 54 that is pivotally mounted in a bracket 55 which is suspended beneath main duct 30.

By introducing the return air upstream from the takeoff connections 40, 40", the return air has a jetting action Which lifts the fiber and air traveling in the main duct toward the exit connections 40. The adjustable vanes 50 provide control of the lifting action first by means of the slope of the vane as regards the upstream air and fiber fiow. The vanes also permit adjusting the velocity and angle of the uplift action of the returned air. The top wall of section 37 is raised at an angle of less than 15 as it approaches the exit 40, as denoted at 37'.

If d equals the inside depth of the box section 37, then the length of the inclined vane or guide plate 50 might be 3 d, and the return 48 might enter at a distance of five or six d from the outlet openings. The center line of each outlet duct 40 may be 1% to 1% d above the center line of the main duct. However, all of these dimensions are variable.

There may be a small orifice with a well rounded approach 56 and a to expansion portion 37 downstream from the center line of each exit 40 in the transition portion of the top wall of section 37 from the exit 40 to the normal rectangular portion of this section. The purpose is to provide a sort of venturi effect to produce a small rise in pressure in the exit zone relative to the exit pressure at the exit duct 40. (The entire trunk line and feed lines operate below atmospheric pressure; and the term pressure is therefore used in a relative sense as related to absolute pressure.)

The described method of operation provides coacting functions that complement each other and magnify the forces necessary to cause and control the removal of fiber. For instance, when a trumpet 42 is empty the flow into the associated by-pass 41-48 from the main duct and back thereto is at a maximum, and the air flowing under the guide vane 50 has its greatest effect in lifting air and fiber toward the associated outlet 40. On the other hand, when fiber is packed in a trumpet 42, essentially no air flows under the guide vane, and the uplift is at a minimum, allowing air and fiber to continue past this particular card down-take.

The adjustable vanes 50 may be used to increase or decrease the uplift effect at any card feed down-take in relation to any succeeding down-take and particularly in relation to the last card unit on any given line of card feeds.

Another form of by-pass construction is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Here the jet function is inverted as compared with the principle illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the system of FIGS. 6 and 7 the fiber and air flows into the by-pass duct section from the bottom of the rectangularly-shaped fitting 137, one of which is inserted into the main duct line 30 above each card. A curved by-pass duct section 140 connects fitting 137 with duct section 41. The section 41 connects with the trumpet 42 as in the previously described embodiment of the invention. However, the fan 45 delivers the air, which has been sucked through the condenser 44 (FIG. 5) to a return duct section 148 which has a right-angularly directed portion 149 at its top that delivers the returning air beneath adjustable vane .150 into the top portion of the duct section 137 upstream from the outflow opening 140.

The top wall of the fitting 137 is raised above the rest of the fitting at the point where section 1 49 of the return duct communicates with it, and is then downwardly inclined, as denoted at 137', as it approaches the exit 140. Vane 150 is pivoted at 151 in the raised portion of the fitting and has an arm 152 secured to it by manipulation of which it may be adjusted.

In both described embodiments, the return air is so directed as to aid the removal of fiber from the trunkline in relation to the formation and packing of the fiber in the trumpet. Both systems, in fact, may be used in a single trunkline. In some instances the system illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be used to better advantage, for instance in feeding the last several cards of a line, where fiber density is at a minimum.

Each of the systems described requires consideration in respect to the dilution of fiber to air ratio following each successive fiber withdrawal from the trunkline, card by card. For instance, if ten cards are to be fed from a single trunkline 30, and each card 35 withdraws fifty pounds per hour, the total fiber leaving the cleaner opener 28 would be five hundred pounds plus of five hundred pounds, for the excess required, or six hundred pounds per hour, or ten pounds per minute. To minimize coagulation of fiber during pneumatic conveying, assume one pound of fiber to six pounds of air leaving the cleaner opener 28. For ten pounds of fiber per minute there will therefore 'be required approximately 800 cubic feet per minute of air or one pound of fiber to 80 cubic feet per minute of air.

The last card in the system of ten cards would receive fiber from the trunk line, where the concentration of fiber to air would be fifty pounds plus the initial overfeed of one hundred pounds, or one hundred and fifty pounds per hour, or 2.5 pounds per minute. The ratio of fiber to air is one pound of fiber to eight hundred pounds divided by 2.5 or 325 cubic feet per minute. Where excess of fiber from the cleaner opener is 20%, the concentration of air per pound of fiber is four times greater at Card No. 1 than at Card No. 10. v

The coacting functions of air cut-off in the trumpets, as they fill with fibers, along with a corresponding change in the effectiveness of the uplift jet of FIGS. 3 and 4 and of the downjet of FIGS. 6 and 7 assures no fiber flow when a trumpet is full and maximum fiber flow when a trumpet is empty. The air bridge and trumpet principle has proven successful in operation in hundreds of machines for forming random fiber webs. The present invention adds the principle of using the air, that passes through a trumpet, condenser, and fan, to supply a working force (energy) to assure removal of fiber from the main duct. Velocities of from 3500 to 4500 ft. per minute have been achieved, for instance, in practice. The jetting energy is strictly consistent with the quantity of air that passes through the trumpet along with the input of energy by the fan, which is also consistent with the quantity and pressure rise for the air passing through the fan.

As fiber is extracted from the trunkline to supply successive cards down the line consecutively, the fiber to air ratio would ordinarily decrease; but adjustment of the successive guide vanes 50, 150 permit increase or decrease of the effectiveness of the jetting force by control ling through this adjustment the energy that is applied to the main stream at the different points of withdrawal of fibers therefrom.

Furthermore, the downtake system at any card can be so fabricated and adjusted that practically no fiber will enter a by-pass when the associated trumpet is full, and that a reasonable rate of filling of each trumpet will take place upon starting up the system with no fibers in the trumpets. The adjustable guide vanes assist in obtaining practical operation throughout the range of fiber to air ratio.

The pneumatic conveying system described operates the distribution and return lines 30 under negative pressure or suction. There is, however, a combined doffing brush and fan inside the Rando-Cleaner opener that boosts the pressure above atmospheric pressure in normal installations of this unit. Its effect in the system described above is to lower the load imposed on fan 36. The negafive or suction pressure in each downtake 40, to the cards is increased a small amount by each fan 45 consistent with a balanced rate of flow of fiber to the card unit. However, except for leakage and friction losses, the air is returned to the main duct 30 in approximately the same quantity and with approximately the same velocity energy.

It is to be noted that the branch line return air from each fan outlet enters the main duct under the guide vane 50 in the same fitting where the air is withdrawn. This return from each card branch circuit acts to restore the total quantity of air to the main trunk line and to enter a supply of fiber-free air at a velocity and in a direction to match the flow conditions of the main stream. The inflow of fiber-free air into the main duct 30 at regular intervals therefore helps prevent coagulation of fibers and scrubbing of the fibers along the duct floor.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an arrangement where a condenser unit is installed on the framework of a card 35 to feed the licker-in of the card. The conventional lap feed apparatus including feed plate, feed roll, and nose ba-r, have been removed.

The revolving condenser screen 44 is enclosed in a case 43 equipped with a dust box 106. Adjacent to the screen is the trumpet here denoted at 42, the outer wall of which may carry on its inside a low friction sheet of plastic such as Delrin, and the inner wall of which is extended and carries a wear strip 112 in proximity to the condenser. The screen 44 is supported on revolving end plates connected by seals and bearings to a steel tube that passes axially through the condenser. This tube is slotted as denoted at 82 and delivers the air, that passes through the condenser, endwise to the fan 45. The connecting pipe and fan 45 assure flow of air through the branch circuit. Fan 45 may be located in any convenient position.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the trumpet 42 and the condenser unit 43 of FIG. 4 are replaced by an opener, cleaner, air bridge, trumpet and condenser combination. The fiber opener cleaner unit is adapted to receive pneumatically conveyed fiber from the downtake duct 141 which is similar to duct 41 previously described except that it is preferably rectangular is crosssection. It is of the same width as the inside fitting 85 which extends into the housing 88. Air flow through the unit is controlled by the demand for fibers at the card feed combined with trumpet action adjacent to the rotating condenser 44. Air and fibers from the by-pass duct pass between two rotating wire wound rolls 86 and 87. Roll 86 may turn from 1000 r.p.m. to 2000 r.p.m., while roll 87 turns at a slower speed, perhaps 250 to 500 r.p.m. Rolls 86 and 87 may be clothed with relatively coarse teeth, the wire height from base to tip being from A4 to V2 inch. The action of the two rolls 86, 87 both approaching the nip in the same direction, one roll rotating clockwise and the other counter-clockwise, is suflicient to pass the fibers therebetween. However, the higher speed roll with teeth so oriented as to require the fibers to enter the nip, the low speed roll with teeth oriented to oppose the action of the teeth on the high speed roll, causes an opening action on the tufts or aggregated stock.

The roll 87 is supported in bearings that will back away if a wad of fiber gets between the rolls and tends to jam. Such a mounting is illustrated in FIG. 10. Here the roll 87 is journaled in a plate 89 that is connected by screws 90 to a plate 91. This plate is mounted to slide on studs 92 which are fastened in one side wall 93 of the housing 88. The plate 91 is adjustably secured by bolts 94 to a bracket 96 that is fastened by screws 97 to the wall 93. The screws 94 pass through holes in the bracket 96 and thread into the flange 101 of the plate 91. A coil spring 98, that seats in a cup-shaped portion 99 of the bracket 96 at one end and that seats at its other end against the head of a nipple 100, constantly urges the plate 91 in a direction to urge the roller 87 toward the roller 86. A stud 102, whose head engages in the nipple 100, limits this movement, as do the studs 94. By adjusting the studs 94 and 102, the desired amount of clearance can be established between the rolls 86 and 87 while permitting the roll 87 to back off in case of an actual jam of fibers. A screw 103, that threads through 3, lug 104, which is secured to plate 93, and which abuts plate 89, aids in effecting the desired adjustment precisely.

Fiber cleaning of fine trash from the air stream is accomplished by a screen 105 which is mounted above the trumpet below the rollers 86 and 87. The work rolls 86 and 87 are placed at an angle of between 23 /2" and 30 from the horizontal so that their center line and the tangent line at the nip causes the opened fibers and trash to traverse the screen 105. The two doifing bars 107 aid in this. Screen 105 is carried over a support bar 108 supported by means of cap screws to housing 88. A seal 110 engages the upper end of the screen above the bar 108. This seal is secured to the housing by a screw 111. The screen rests at its lower end on the inner wall of the trumpet which is carried by a bar 112.

The fibers should remain air-borne in the air currents flowing above the screen during traverse of the screen 105. Due to centrifugal force the trash particles find their way through the holes of the screen into the trash box 106. The trash box and its enclosing chamber is sealed by seals 118 and 119 so that the pressure therein is in balance with the mean pressure on the duct flow side of the screen.

In this connection it is to be noted that the fibers have a high air-borne factor (surface area divided by mass per individual unit) while the trash has a very low airborne factor. The screen is hinged, as denoted at 109 to be removed for inspection and clean-out as by means of the sliding door which is movable by handle 116. The dirt-collecting tray 106 can be pulled out of the housing 88 by handle 117.

As in the previously-described installations the fibers collected on the condenser are delivered onto a feed plate, such as shown at 62, being carried by a feed roll 60 over a guide plate 65 and nose bar 63 to card licker-in 64. These replace the feed plate and feed roll of a conventional card. A flexible sealing member 68 is secured to the outside of the trumpet to engage the feed roll 60* to seal the trumpet to the feed roll at that point. An inner seal 120 is secured to the tube '80 by a screw 121 to engage the inside of the condenser 44. A flexible sealing member 123 also carried by the plate 120 engages the inside of the condenser to effect sealing. An outer seal 125 secured to a roll 127 in the housing engages the outer face of the condenser to eflect sealing. A fiber cut-ofl nose 128 is secured to the guide plate 65 and is disposed very close to the periphery of the condenser to remove the fiber from the condenser and deliver it onto the guide plate. Atmospheric air is permitted to leak inward between the outer seal 125 and the fiber cut-off strip 128 to aid in doffing fibers from the revolving screen condenser.

In accordance with the principles of applicants prior Patent No. 2,744,294 the suction fan 45 creates a flow of air from the trunk-line through the take-up 40 and the adjustable air bridge thereof, the downtake conduit, between the two rolls 86 and 87 and through the trumpet, through the condenser screen 44, the tube 80, to the fan 45, and the uptake conduit 48 to return air to the bottom of the trunk line at the section 37.

The fiber supplied to the by-pass duct is deposited on the condenser screen 44, and will back up into the trumpet 42' until the inflow of air and fiber reaches zero. The condenser, when set in motion, draws the fiber from the trumpet permitting the air to flow and carry the fiber to the feed roll 60, forming an air bridge between the trunk line and the trumpet dependent upon the withdrawal rate controlled by the speed of the condenser screen. Thus, there is formed in the trumpet 42 a front, which will be filled in by fiber in relation to the resistance of flow of air through each increment of width of the trumpet.

The feed mat forming in the trumpet is caused to move forward by the rotating screen 44 to a doffing point opposite to the feed roll 60. Doffing is accomplished by relieving the suction air by means of the internal plate 120 which is so shaped that suction against the feed mat is relieved and the feed mat is free to enter the space be tween the feed roll 60 and the mat guide 65. The feed roll 60 is supported by arms and pressurized by springs in the usual fashion so that the mat fibers are held between the feed roll and the tip of the nose bar 63. As the fibers flow over the tip of the nose bar they are combed by the teeth of the licker-in 64 of the carding machine, and carried to the card clothing.

FIG. 8 shows how additional air may be added to the system adjacent its intake juncture with the cleaner opener 28 to get the ratio of air tofiber required to transport the excess of fiber needed to assure at all times delivery of fiber to all the cards of a line, as described above. While the cleaner-opener has an internal fan, its capacity is limited; and an additional input of air is required to transport the fibers pneumatically under the prescribed conditions of fiber to air ratio. Here an adapter 130 is fitted between the rectangular outlet of the cleaner-opener 28 and the uptake duct 33. This fitting is in effect a diffuser. Air under pressure can be supplied to intake duct 32 under pressure and under control of an adjustable damper 131 or of a variable speed fan. Such a diffuser will boost the pressure (absolute) in the uptake duct 33, thus providing a push-pull effect with respect to fan 36. Such a diffuser will blend the two air streams together with minimum turbulence and fiber-coagulation. More importantly it will level the internal trunkline static pressure at the various card take-off fittings.

A variation in the return system would be to intercept the return line 30 ahead of fan 36 with a take-off fitting so disposed that the returning fiber would be withdrawn along with air and be entered into the inlet of fan 36 and thence be conveyed through the duct 32 (FIG. 8) back into the trunkline for recirculation without being acted upon by the cleaner-opener 28. Any fiber and air not extracted for recirculation through such a by-pass would continue through fan and condenser 36' (FIG. 1) and to the hopper of the cleaner-opener 28.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptation of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a plurality of machines for operating on fibers, of means for supplying fibers to said machines, comprising a trunkline for carrying fibers in suspension in air,

a movable foraminous condenser associated with each machine,

a plurality of by-pass conduits, one for each machine,

connecting said trunkline to the respective condensers to convey air and fibers from said trunkline to the respective condenser,

a suction fan associated with each condenser to draw fibers and air from the associated by-pass conduit to the condenser,

a return conduit connecting each fan to the trunkline to carry the air, which passes through the associated condenser back to the trunkline again,

means for delivering the fibers collected on each condenser to the associated machine,

two oppositely rotating opening rolls associated with each condenser,

each by-pass conduit delivering fibers and air between the two opening rolls associated therewith, and

a conduit delivering the fibers and air, that passes through the nip between said rolls, to the associated condenser, the lower portion of one side of the lastnamed conduit being perforated, and

a receptacle below said perforated portion for collecting dirt and fines that pass therethrough.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, wherein the condenser is a rotary condenser, and each said last-named conduit decreases in height as it approaches the associated condenser but is of a width at the condenser approximately equal to the axial length of the condenser.

3. The combination with a plurality of machines for operating on fibers, of means for supplying fibers to said machines, comprising a trunkline for carrying fibers in suspension in air,

a movable foraminous condenser associated with each machine,

a plurality of by-pass conduits, one for each machine, connecting said trunkline to the respective condensers to convey air and fibers from said trunkline to the respective condenser,

a suction fan associated with each condenser to draw fibers and air from the associated by-pass conduit to the condenser,

a return conduit connecting each fan to the trunkline to carry the air, which passes through the associated condenser back to the trunkline again,

means for delivering the fibers collected on each condenser to the associated machine,

two oppositely rotating opening rolls preceding and associated with each condenser,

the return conduit of at least one machine being connected to the trunkline upstream from the associated by-pass conduit so that the returning air aids in delivery of air and fibers to said associated by-pass conduit, and

an adjustable vane controlling flow of air from said one return conduit into said trunkline.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, wherein said one return conduit is connected to the trunkline at the bottom thereof, and the associated by-pass conduit is con nected to the trunkline at the top thereof, and the vane is disposed so that the return air flows beneath it, and is adjustable angularly with reference to the bottom of the trunkline to control the direction of flow of the return air into the trunkline.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3, wherein said one return conduit is connected to the trunkline at the top thereof, and the associated by-pass conduit is connected to the trunkline at the bottom thereof, and the vane is disposed at the top of the trunkline so that the return air flows beneath it, and is adjustable angularly with reference to the top of the trunkline to control the direction of flow of the return air into the trunkline.

6. The combination with a plurality of machines for operating on fibers, of means for supplying fibers to said machines comprising a trunkline for conveying fibers in suspension in air,

a movable foraminous condenser associated with each machine,

a plurality of by-pass conduits, one for each machine, connected to said trunkline to conduct air and fibers from the trunkline through ports therein to the respective condensers,

a return conduit connected to each condenser to conduct air back to the trunkline again, and

means for producing air flow through said trunkline,

conduits and condenser,

each of said return conduits being connected to the bottom of said trunkline upstream of the associated port, and

a plurality of deflectors movably mounted in said trunkline, one at the juncture of said trunkline and each return conduit to deflect air, returning to said trunkline, downstream of said trunkline, to help prevent fibers from depositing on the bottom of said trunkline.

7. The combination with a plurality of machines for operating on fibers, of means for supplying fibers to said machines comprising a trunkline for conveying fibers in suspension in air,

a movable foraminous condenser associated with each machine,

a plurality of by-pass conduits, one for each machine, connected to said trunkline to conduct air and fibers from the trunkline to the respective condensers,

a return conduit connected to each condenser to conduct air back to the trunkline again, and

means for producing air flow through said trunkline,

conduits and condenser,

each of said return conduits being connected to the top of the trunkline upstream of the juncture of the associated by-pass conduit, and

a plurality of deflectors movably mounted in said trunkline, one at the juncture of said trunkline and each return conduit to deflect air, returning to said trunkline, downstream of said trunkline so that the re turning air will help direct fibers and air into said bypass conduits, said by-pass conduits being connected to the bottom of the trunkline.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2 Harwood et a1 19-1563 Meiler 19-1563 FOREIGN PATENTS France.

Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain.

10 ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

